WO2021245247A1

WO2021245247A1 - Method for creating and executing a control program for controlling an automation system, and automation system

Info

Publication number: WO2021245247A1
Application number: PCT/EP2021/065029
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ralf DREESEN
Original assignee: Beckhoff Automation Gmbh
Priority date: 2020-06-05
Filing date: 2021-06-04
Publication date: 2021-12-09
Also published as: US20230101320A1; EP4147121A1; DE102020115028A1; CN115702413A

Abstract

The invention relates to a method (100) for creating and executing a control program for controlling an automation system (200) comprising a controller (201) and a web server (203) connected to the controller (201), the method comprising: in a code creation step (105), creating a first version of a program code (V1) of a control program for the automation system (200) in an input module of a web-based development environment (300), which input module is executed in a web browser (206); in a translation step (111), executing a translation module (303) of the web-based development environment (300) on the web server (201) and translating the program code into a program code of a binary language; and, in an execution step (115), executing the program code in the binary language by means of the controller (201) of the automation system. The invention also relates to an automation system (200).

Description

description

Method for creating and executing a control program for controlling an automation system and automation system

The invention relates to a method for creating and executing a control program for controlling an automation system. The invention also relates to an automation system which is set up to carry out the method for creating and executing a control program for controlling an automation system.

This patent application claims the priority of German patent application DE 10 2020 115 028.8, the disclosure content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

The technical discipline of automation technology (implementation, measurement, control / regulation, communication, human / machine interface, safety, etc.) has the task of automating machines including industrial robots and / or systems, i. H. To be able to operate independently and without human involvement. A degree of automation (ratio of the automated production steps to all production steps) in an automation system is higher, the more independent a respective machine in a system and / or a relevant system is or are from human intervention.

The goals of automation technology include relieving people of dangerous, strenuous and / or monotonous activities, improving quality through the technical system, increasing the efficiency of the system and reducing costs through the system. Advances in machines, signal acquisition, signal processing and / or communication (networking) of components within the automation system can significantly increase the degree of automation of an existing or a new system compared to the state of the art.

Programmable logic controllers (PLC) are usually used to control automation systems. Programmable logic controllers are used, among other things, in process control technology, for example to control production lines or chemical plants. Machine controls designed as programmable logic controllers control or regulate machines and systems by actuators such as Relays, drives or valves can be controlled as a function of measured values that were recorded by sensors arranged on the machine or system.

Programmable logic controllers are usually event-driven and periodically execute a control program. The signals from the sensors are read in within an execution cycle and output values for the actuators are calculated and output on the basis of the signals.

Appropriately programmed control programs are required to control automation systems. To create corresponding control programs, appropriately designed Integrated Development Environments (IDE) are usually used, which provide the user with input options in the form of editors, each of which provides various input aids, such as auto-completion of the written program code. So-called IDE also enable the user to use translation functions that enable the created program code to be translated into a binary language. Furthermore, IDEs are set up, among other things, to carry out debugging processes that enable the user to find errors in the program code that has been created.

Usually, IDEs are operated locally on a desktop computer or on a laptop. However, this assumes that a corresponding IDE is installed on the computer to be used and that the computer used has sufficient computing power to carry out the functions mentioned. Common IDEs for corresponding operating systems are also specified. The user is therefore bound to the computer on which the IDE is installed to create program code. This represents a considerable restriction in the flexibility of the user and the way in which the programming of control programs in automation technology can be carried out.

One object of the invention is thus to provide a method for creating and executing a control program for controlling an automation system that allows a user a high degree of flexibility. Another object of the invention is to provide a corresponding automation system which is set up to carry out the method for creating and executing a control program for controlling an automation system. The stated objects are achieved by a method and an automation system according to the independent claims. Advantageous developments are specified in the dependent claims.

According to one aspect of the invention, a method for creating and executing a control program for controlling an automation system with a controller and a web server connected to the controller is provided, the method comprising:

Creating a connection between a client device and the web server via a web browser executed on the client device in a server connection step, a web-based development environment with an input module for creating a program code and a translation module for translating the created program code being installed on the web server, wherein the input module can be executed in the web browser, and wherein the translation module is set up to translate a program code of a first programming language into a program code of a binary language;

Executing an instance of the input module in the web browser by the client device and creating a connection between the client device and a working environment of the web server and the translation module of the working environment via the instance of the input module executed in the web browser in a working environment connection step, the translation module being executable within the working environment is;

Creating a first version of a program code of a control program for the automation system in the first programming language in the instance of the input module executed in the web browser in a code creation step;

Transferring the created first version of the program code from the instance of the input module executed in the web browser to the working environment of the web server in a program code transfer step;

Writing the transferred first version of the program code into a program file in the working environment in a writing step;

Execution of the translation module in the working environment and translation of the program code created in the first programming language and written in the program file by the translation module into a program code of the binary language in one translation step;

Transferring the program code in the binary language from the working environment to the controller of the automation system in a binary code transfer step; and Execution of the program code in the binary language by the control of the automation system and control of the automation system on the basis of the program code in one execution step.

This has the technical advantage that a method for creating and executing a control program for controlling an automation system can be provided, in which web-based programming of the program code of the control program is made possible via a web-based development environment. For this purpose, a web-based development environment with an input module for creating a program code and a translation module for translating the created program code into a binary program for controlling the automation system is installed on a web server. The input module of the web-based development environment can be executed in a web browser. The translation module, on the other hand, can be executed on the web server and is set up to translate a program code of any programming language into a program code of a binary language.

To create the control program, a user can thus establish a connection to the web server via a web browser running on any client device and execute an instance of the input module of the web-based development environment in the web browser running on the client device. The client device can be a desktop computer, laptop, or any mobile device. This means that a user can act to create a program code for a control program from any client device. It is therefore not necessary for a development environment including an input module to be installed on the client device used in order to carry out a programming process for creating the program code.

The instance of the input module executed in the web browser of the client device is platform-independent and can be executed on any client device that is controlled via any operating system. This makes the web-based development environment platform-independent.

To create the program code of the control program, the user then creates a connection to a working environment set up on the web server via the instance of the input module executed in the web browser. A programming project can be set up in the working environment which contains all files, directories or databases necessary to create the program code. The working environment thus enables the web server to be structured so that different programming projects can be arranged so that they can be separated from one another. The work environment can, for example, be provided with password-protected access and only allow authorized users to connect. This means that sensitive data from different users can be stored on the web server.

Through the instance of the input module executed in the web browser, the user can subsequently create a version of the program code of the control program in any programming language from the respective client device used. By executing the instance of the input module in the web browser of the client device used, the user is not bound to a specific client device to create the program code, which allows the user a high degree of flexibility and the user by using any client Device can create a program code for a control program at any location.

In the program code transfer step, only the changes to the program code made in the code creation step, on the basis of which the first version of the program code was created, can be transferred from the instance of the input module running in the web browser to the web server via the internet connection. This is of particular interest if the first version of the program code represents a modified version of a program code that has already been created.

The first programming language can be any programming language or a programming language known from the prior art for creating control programs for automation systems. In order to translate the created program code in the first programming language selected by the user into a binary code that can be executed by the control of the automation system, the instance of the input module executed in the web browser transmits the created program code to the web server and prompts the latter to store the transmitted program code in a program file within the working environment to write.

A program file can be designed as a composite type and have a plurality of files arranged in corresponding directories. This means that the program code created is stored in the programming language selected by the user on the server, in particular in the corresponding work environment, so that the program code created can be stored on the Client device used by the user is not necessary to back up the programming project. In this way, it can be achieved that when further editing the created program code, the user is not bound to the initially selected client device, but can edit the already created program code from any client device.

The program file can also be designed, comparable to a buffer, as a file in a main memory of the web server, so that changes to the program file do not have to be automatically saved in a permanent data memory, such as a hard drive, of the web server.

In addition, the program file can be associated with an association file in the permanent data memory of the web server, in which the contents of the program file can be stored so that the contents of the program file can be stored in the permanent memory of the web server.

Furthermore, it is achieved that a memory area of the client device used for storing the generated program code is not loaded. In this way, resources of the client device used can be saved.

By executing the translation module on the program code written in the program file, this can be translated into a corresponding binary code that can be executed for controlling the automation system by the control of the automation system. In this way, the translation process can be outsourced to the web server, so that a computationally intensive translation of the generated program code on the client device can be avoided. A saving in resources of the client device used for creating the program code can thus be achieved.

To execute the binary code created by the translation module of the program code previously created in the instance of the input module by the control of the automation system, the generated binary code can be transmitted directly from the web server, in particular from the work environment, to a control of the automation system connected to the web server and from of the controller. A smooth transition between creating the program code and executing the respective control program through the control of the automation system and the associated control of the automation system can be achieved here. A cumbersome process in which a program code is otherwise first created on a specially set up client device and translated into binary code, which then has to be uploaded to a controller of an automation system so that the controller can execute the respective control program and thus the automation system control can thus be avoided.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises:

Establishing a further connection between a further client device and the web server via a further web browser executed on the further client device in a further server connection step;

Executing a further instance of the input module in the further web browser of the further client device and creating a further connection of the further client device with the working environment of the web server via the further instance of the input module executed in the further web browser in a further working environment connection step; Transferring the first version of the program code written in the program file to the further instance of the input module executed in the further web browser of the further client device in a further program code transfer step;

Making changes to the program code and creating a second version of the program code in the first programming language in the further instance of the input module executed in the further web browser of the further client device in a change creation step;

Transferring the second version of the program code from the further instance of the input module to the working environment of the web server in a change transfer step;

Writing the second version of the program code to the program file in the working environment in a change writing step;

Transferring the second version of the program code from the working environment to the instance of the input module of the client device executed in the web browser in a second change transfer step; and

Display of the second version of the program code in the instance of the input module of the client device executed in the web browser in a display step.

This has the technical advantage that the program code created can be processed simultaneously by different users. For this purpose, a connection between the further client device and the web server can be established via a further web browser running on the further client device. In the following, in Another instance of the input module can be executed in the further web browser of the further client device. The further client device can be any desktop, laptop or any mobile device and can be executed with any operating system, which can also be different from the operating system of the client device already connected to the web server. Furthermore, the two web browsers of the two client devices can be different web browsers. The different instances of the input module can thus be executed in different web browsers of different client devices.

Via the further instance of the input module, which is executed in the further web browser of the further client device, a connection to the working environment can be established and after the program code written in the program file has been transferred from the web server to the further instance of the input module executed in the further web browser, the The program code created can be displayed in the further instance of the input module on the further client device. This enables different users to simultaneously edit a program code from different client devices. Different users can thus simultaneously contribute to the creation of the same program code and can do this from different devices.

Via the further instance of the input module, the further user can make changes to the program code created and create a second version of the program code. The second version of the program code can subsequently be transferred from the further instance of the input module, which is executed in the further web browser, to the web server, in particular to the work environment, and written into the program file. The program file stored in the working environment of the web server can be modified by both the first user and the second user.

The second version written in the program file can then be transmitted to the first user, in particular to the instance of the input module executed in the web browser of the client device, and displayed there. This ensures that both users display the identical version of the program code at the same time in the input module executed in the web browser of the client device used in each case. The different users can thus track the changes made by the respective other user, so that it is possible for the two users to work together to create the program code. The individual users are thus able to benefit from their the client device used to effect changes to the program code and to track the changes made by the other users.

The second version of the program code created by the additional user of the additional client device can be written into the program file and thus stored on the web server. Furthermore, the second version written in the program file can be translated into a corresponding binary code by the translation module executed on the web server, in particular in the work environment, transferred to the control of the automation system and executed by this to control the automation system. This enables a program code to be created in cooperation with different users using different client devices, translated using the web server and executed by a controller of the automation system. In this way, a cooperative collaboration for carrying out a common programming project for creating a control program for an automation system can be achieved.

According to one embodiment, in the change transfer step and in the second change transfer step, only the changes to the program code made in the further instance of the input module are transferred from the second version of the program code.

This has the technical advantage that the smallest possible data volume is transmitted to the web server for the transmission of the different versions of the program code created by the various users. In this way, a fast transmission and thus a display of the changes made in the individual instances of the input module of the various users as simultaneously as possible can be achieved. By transferring only the changes made to the individual versions of the program code, the program code written in the program file can be updated promptly.

According to one embodiment, the changes made in the further instance of the input module to the second version of the program code and the first version of the program code are transferred in the change transfer step, the method further comprising:

Comparing the first version of the program code transmitted in the second change transmission step with the version of the program code written in the program file in a comparison step; Determining a synchronization error in an error determining step if the first version of the program code does not match the version of the program code written in the program file;

Transferring the version of the program code written in the program file from the working environment to the further instance of the input module executed in the further web browser in a version transfer step; and

Displaying the transferred version of the program code in the further instance of the input module executed in the further web browser in a version display step.

This has the technical advantage that the processing of the program code by the two users can be synchronized. In addition to the changes made, the respective version of the program code to which the changes were made by the respective user is transmitted from the respective instance of the input module to the web server and the transmitted version of the program code with the version of the written in the program file Program codes is compared, it can be ensured that with simultaneous processing of the program code by several users, all users are editing the identical version of the program code.

If the version of the program code transmitted with the changes made does not match the version of the program code written in the program file, the transmitted changes are not written into the program file and instead the version currently written in the program file is transmitted to the respective user and saved in of the respective instance of the input module. This ensures that all users connected to the working environment are shown the current version of the program code written in the program file, so that all users editing the respective program project can edit an identical version of the program code.

According to one embodiment, the changes made in the further instance of the input module to the second version of the program code and information relating to the first version of the program code are transmitted in the change transfer step, the method further comprising:

Comparing the information transmitted in the second change transmission step with regard to the first version of the program code with the version of the program code written in the program file in a comparison step; Determining a synchronization error in an error determination step if the information relating to the first version of the program code does not match the version of the program code written in the program file;

This achieves the technical advantage that by transmitting the information relating to the first version for checking the correspondence of the first version with the version written in the program file, a reduced data volume has to be transmitted.

Information relating to the first version can be, for example, a version number that uniquely identifies the version of the program code. In the comparison step, the version number of the first version of the program code can then be compared with the version number of the version of the program code stored in the program file in order to determine whether the version numbers match or differ.

According to one embodiment, each of the entries made in the code generation step is transmitted in an individual message in the program code transmission step, each of the changes made to the first version of the program code being transmitted in an individual message in the change transmission step.

This has the technical advantage that instant processing of the changes made by the web server and an associated instant update of the versions of the program code written in the program file is made possible. A change in the program code can be a single keystroke of the client device or a single addition or deletion of a character in the program code displayed in the respective instance of the input module.

According to one embodiment, the translation module further comprises an analysis module for performing a semantic analysis and / or a syntactic analysis of the program code created in, the method further comprising: Execution of a global analysis of the program code created and written in the program file in the first programming language by the analysis module and determination of global analysis results in a global analysis step, the global analysis of the program code including a semantic analysis and / or a syntactic analysis of the entire program code Comprises a basis of semantics and / or a grammar of the first programming language;

Transferring global analysis results determined in the global analysis step to the instance of the input module of the client device executed in the web browser and / or to the further instance of the input module of the further client device executed in the further web browser in an analysis result transfer step; and displaying the transmitted global analysis results in the instance of the input module of the client device executed in the web browser and / or in the further instance of the input module of the further client device executed in the further web browser in an analysis result display step.

This has the technical advantage that during the programming process on the web server, especially in the working environment of the web server, an analysis of the program code written in the program file is carried out with regard to the correctness of the program code created with regard to the semantics and grammar of the programming language used can. It is also achieved that during the programming process, the user can see the corresponding results of the semantic or syntactic analysis of the created program code in the instance of the input module used, so that the user can correct errors in the created program code while programming. This enables a programming process that is as simple as possible, in which syntactic or semantic errors in the program code are displayed to the user.

According to one embodiment, the global analysis results are transmitted as a response from the web server to a poll request from the instance of the input module of the client device executed in the web browser and / or to a poll request from the further instance of the input module of the further client executed in the further web browser -Get trained.

This has the technical advantage that the analysis results are automatically displayed in the instance of the input module used by the user. can be asked. For this purpose, the instance of the input module can send corresponding inquiries to the web server at a preset time interval as to whether corresponding global analysis results of the analysis module are available. As soon as the analysis of the program code written in the program file carried out by the analysis module has been completed, the corresponding analysis results are transmitted from the web server to the instance of the input module executed in the web browser and displayed by this to the user. The user is thus automatically informed of the corresponding semantic or syntactic analysis results without the user having to carry out a corresponding query. The user is thus automatically shown the corresponding analysis results by the instance of the input module used by him and does not have to initiate a corresponding analysis.

According to one embodiment, global analysis results include error messages regarding semantic and / or syntactic errors in the created program code, program objects used in the program code and relationships between the program objects used in the program code, whereby program objects used in the program code variables, functions, data types, namespaces or other objects include.

This has the technical advantage that a large amount of information relating to the program code created by the user can be displayed to the user in the instance of the input module used in each case. Through the analysis results created in the global analysis, which include both semantic and syntactic errors in the program code created and / or variables, functions, data types, namespaces and other instances of the programming language used, the user can for a possible Smooth programming of the program code, comprehensive information and input assistance are provided.

According to one embodiment, the global analysis step further comprises:

Creating an analysis version of the program code created and written in the program file in the first programming language by the analysis module in a snapshot step, the analysis version of the program code corresponding to the version of the program code written in the program file at the time the global analysis step is carried out; and

Execution of the global analysis of the program code in the first programming language based on the analysis version in the global analysis step. This has the technical advantage that the program code can be edited by the respective user while the global analysis is being carried out by the analysis module. For this purpose, an analysis version of the program code written in the program file is first created, on the basis of which the corresponding global analysis of the program code is carried out by the analysis module. While the global analysis is being carried out by the analysis module, which comprises the entire program code and is therefore time-consuming, further changes can be made to the version of the program code written in the program file. This means that, despite the global analysis being carried out by the analysis module, the user does not have to interrupt the programming process and can therefore make further changes to the program code while the analysis is being carried out. Since the analysis module acts on the previously created analysis version of the program code, further modifications of the version of the program code written in the program file also do not interrupt the analysis of the analysis module. A simultaneous analysis of the program code by the analysis module and other changes made to the program code by the respective users can thus be achieved.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises:

Creating a current version of the program code created and written in the program file in the first programming language by the analysis module in an update step, with a current version of the program code created and written in the program file in the first programming language after each change to the program code by the instance of the input module of the client device and / or is created by the further instance of the input module of the further client device; Carrying out a local analysis of part of the program code created and written in the program file in the first programming language by the analysis module on the basis of the current version of the program code and determining local analysis results in a local analysis step;

Transferring the local analysis results determined in the local analysis step to the instance of the input module of the client device executed in the web browser and / or to the further instance of the input module of the further client device executed in the further web browser in a local analysis result transfer step; and displaying the transmitted local analysis results in the instance of the input module of the client device executed in the web browser and / or in the further instance of the input module of the further client device executed in the further web browser in a A local analysis result display step, the local analysis results including automatic completions, syntax highlighting and other input aids for inputs in the instance of the input module and / or the further instance of the input module.

This has the technical advantage that the input module can provide the user with additional input aids. The local analysis only analyzes parts of the generated program code. For this purpose, a current version of the program code written in the program file is first created and the respective local analysis is carried out on the current version. In particular, a current version of the program code is created for each change in the program code that is transmitted from the respective instance of the input module to the web server and a corresponding local analysis is carried out.

In this way, functions such as auto-completion of the program code created in the instance of the input module as well as the display of write errors and similar input aids can be achieved. By creating a corresponding current version of the program code for each change in the program code, which can include each addition or deletion of a character in the program code, and a local analysis of the current version is carried out, corresponding displays can be displayed for each change made by the user Input module of the respective input assistance, such as autocompletion, syntax highlighting and the like, are provided.

According to one embodiment, the transmission of the local analysis results is designed as a push message from the web server to the instance of the input module of the client device executed in the web browser and / or to the further instance of the input module of the further client device executed in the further web browser.

This has the technical advantage that an instantaneous display of the respective input aids can be provided in the respective instance of the input module. Via the push messages, the corresponding results of the local analysis are thus automatically transmitted by the web server to the respective instances of the input modules as soon as the corresponding local analyzes have been carried out. According to one embodiment, the analysis module comprises a global analysis module for carrying out the global analysis and a local analysis module for carrying out the local analysis.

This has the technical advantage that global analyzes and local analyzes can be carried out simultaneously. Since the global analyzes are carried out by the global analysis module on the basis of the analysis version of the program code and the local analyzes are carried out by the local analysis module on the basis of the current versions of the program code, interference between the two different analyzes is avoided so that they can be carried out independently and individually.

According to one embodiment, the translation step further comprises:

Translating the program code in the first programming language into a program code in a high-level language in a first partial translation step; and translating the program code in the high-level language into the program code in the binary language in a second partial translation step.

This has the technical advantage that a web-based development environment that is as flexible as possible can be provided. By translating the program code of the first programming language into program code of a high-level language and then translating the program code of the high-level language into a corresponding binary code, a translation module with compatible back-end and front-end units that is as simple as possible can be provided for a large number of different first programming languages.

By dividing the translation module into back-end and front-end units, of which the back-end unit provides a translation of the high-level language into binary code and the front-end unit provides a translation of the first programming language into the high-level language, the translation module can be easily adapted to various first programming languages or various controls of the automation system made possible by exclusively adapting the front-end unit or adapting the back-end unit. In order to add a second first programming language, it is only necessary to modify a front-end unit which is set up to translate the further first programming language into the high-level language, while the back-end unit can remain unchanged. For using the web-based development environment for further control with a further processor unit, only the back-end unit has to be adapted to the translation of the high-level language into the binary language used by the further processor unit, while the front-end unit can remain unchanged.

According to one embodiment, the first programming language is a graphical programming language.

This has the technical advantage that the web-based development environment enables program code to be developed in a standard programming language for automation systems, for example a sequential function chart, ladder diagram or function block diagram.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises:

Execution of a debugging process of the generated program code by the translation module in a debugging step.

This has the technical advantage that the program code of the control program for the automation system created by the web-based development environment can be checked for functionality. The functionality of the created control program can be tested in the debugging process.

According to one embodiment, the debugging step further comprises:

Translating the program code of the first programming language generated in the first programming language and written in the program file into a program code of the binary language in a debugging translation step;

Transferring the program code translated in the debugging translation step in binary language from the working environment to the controller of the automation system in a debugging transfer step;

Execution of the program code in the binary language by the control of the automation system in a debugging execution step; and transferring information relating to the executed program code to the instance of the input module of the client device executed in the web browser and / or to the further instance of the input module of the further client device executed in the further web browser in a debugging information transfer step.

This has the technical advantage that a debugging process for the program code created is initiated via the instance of the input module executed in the web browser can be, in which the execution of the created program code to check the functionality of the created program code is effected by the web server or by the control of the automation system connected to the web server. The user can thus easily initiate the functioning of the program code he has created from the client device he is using, and does not require a direct connection to control the automation system or a simulation device installed on the client device to simulate a control of an automation system to check the functionality of the created program code.

To carry out the debugging process, the generated program code can be translated into a corresponding binary code by the translation module, and the binary code can be transferred from the web server to the control of the automation system and executed by it. Information, such as measured values from sensors of the automation system or other memory entries in the controller, can subsequently be transferred from the controller via the web server to the instance of the input module executed in the respective web browser and displayed to the user by this, so that the created program code is functional can be determined on the basis of the behavior of the controller or the components of the automation system controlled by the controller.

In one embodiment, the debug translation step further comprises:

Setting at least one breakpoint in the program code in a breakpoint setting step; and

Execution of the program code in the binary language by the control of the automation system up to the breakpoint in the debugging execution step.

This has the technical advantage that a simple check of the functionality of the created program code is made possible. By setting appropriate breakpoints through a corresponding function within the respective instance of the input module executed in the web browser, execution of the control program can be interrupted by the control at desired points in the control program. This makes it easier to identify an error within the program code of the control program which leads to a malfunction of the control program.

According to one embodiment, the work environment connection step comprises: generating the work environment on the web server in a work environment generation step; and Setting up the translation module in the work environment in one setup step.

This has the technical advantage that a new programming project can be started using the input module executed in the web browser, in which a corresponding working environment with a translation module is set up in the web server. When creating the respective program code of the programming project, one or a plurality of program files can be set up in the working environment. A user can thus comfortably start a new programming project by executing the input module in the web server of a client device used by him and save and edit the correspondingly created program code within a working environment provided on the web server. Different programming projects can thus be stored individually in different work environments and separated from one another. This avoids mixing up different projects.

According to one embodiment, a plurality of working environments that are separate from one another are generated on the web server, the translation module being executable in each working environment, and an individual programming project being able to be carried out in each working environment.

This has the technical advantage that a clean separation of different programming projects in individually designed working environments on the web server is made possible. The various work environments can also be provided with corresponding, for example password-protected, accesses so that only authorized users can access the individual projects in the work environment. In this way, for example, the functionality of the web-based development environment and in particular the computing power of the web server can be made available to various users for carrying out corresponding programming projects. A backup of sensitive data on the web server can thus be guaranteed.

For this purpose, a plurality of instances of the translation module can be created for the translation module of the web-based development environment set up on the web server. The various instances of the translation module can be executed in the various working environments. This means that several different programming projects can be processed at the same time. Each of the instances of the translator The application module can have an analysis module so that local and global analyzes of the program codes created within the programming environments can be carried out.

According to one embodiment, the web server is integrated into the control of the automation system.

This has the technical advantage that a unit that is as compact as possible can be provided between the web server and the control of the automation system. Since the web server is integrated into the control of the automation system, an additional data processing system is not necessary to operate the web server.

According to one embodiment, the working environment further comprises a service module, where the service module is set up to carry out computationally intensive processes of the input module executed in the web browser.

This has the technical advantage that complex processes can be outsourced to the web server. In this way, resources of the respective client device can be saved. Computationally expensive processes of the input module can be, for example, layout algorithms that are required when programming graphic programming languages to create the program code and are correspondingly computationally complex.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an automation system with a controller and a web server connected to the controller is provided, the web server being connectable to a client device and a further client device, a working environment and a web-based development environment on the web server is installed, and wherein the automation system is set up to execute the inventive method for creating and executing a control program for controlling an automation system.

This achieves the technical advantage that an automation system is provided in which it is possible for a program code of a control program for controlling the automation system to be generated by means of a web-based development environment installed on a web server. The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached, schematic and not to scale drawings. Sections, elements, components, units, components and / or schemes which have an identical or analogous design and / or function are identified with the same reference symbols in the fi gure description, the list of reference symbols, the claims and in the figures of the drawing.

In the invention, a feature can be positive; H. present, or negative, d. H. absent, be designed, wherein a negative feature is not explicitly explained as a feature unless value is attached to the invention that it is absent, that is, the invention actually made and not one constructed by the prior art consists in this feature omit.

The features of the description can also be interpreted as optional features; d. H. Each characteristic can be understood as an optional, arbitrary or preferred, i.e. as a non-binding, characteristic. It is thus possible to extract a feature, possibly including its periphery, from an exemplary embodiment, this feature then being transferable to a generalized inventive concept. The lack of a feature in one embodiment shows that the feature is optional with respect to the invention.

In the figures show:

1 shows a schematic representation of an automation system according to one embodiment;

2 shows a flow diagram of a method for creating and executing a control program for controlling an automation system according to an embodiment;

3 shows a further flow diagram of the method for creating and executing a control program for controlling an automation system according to a further embodiment;

4 shows a further flow diagram of the method for creating and executing a control program for controlling an automation system according to a further embodiment; FIG. 5 shows a time flow diagram of data communication between the web server and the client devices of the automation system in FIG. 1, according to an embodiment;

6 shows a time flow diagram of a data communication between the web server ver and the client devices of the automation system in FIG. 1, according to an embodiment; and

7 shows a further flow diagram of the method for creating and executing a control program for controlling an automation system according to a further embodiment;

8 shows a further flow diagram of the method for creating and executing a control program for controlling an automation system according to a further embodiment; and

9 shows a further schematic representation of the automation system in FIG. 1 according to a further embodiment.

1 shows a schematic illustration of an automation system 200 according to an embodiment.

The automation system 200 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a controller 201 and a web server 203, which is connected to the controller via a data bus 213. A working environment 209 is set up on the web server 203, in which a web-based development environment 300 can be executed, the development environment 300 being installed on the web server 203. In the embodiment of the automation system 200 shown in FIG. 1, the controller 201 and the web server 203 are implemented by two individual data processing systems. Alternatively, the web server 203 can be integrated into the controller 201. In addition, a connection to the Internet can be implemented via the data bus 213.

In the embodiment in FIG. 1, a client device 205 and a further client device 207 are also connected to the web server 203 via an internet connection 215. A web browser 206, in which an instance of an input module 311 of the web-based development environment 300 is executed, is installed on the client device 205. A further web browser 208, in which a further instance of the input module 313 is executed, is installed on the further client device 207.

The client device 205 and the further client device 207 can be any data processing system, for example an industrial computer, a desktop computer, a laptop or any mobile device, for example a mobile phone or tablet. The web browsers 206, 208 can be any web browser known from the prior art, and the client devices 205, 207 can be operated by any operating systems known from the prior art. Alternatively, a web browser can also be integrated into an application program and run as part of the application program.

The automation system 200 can be any industrial automation system and the controller 201 can be designed as any control of an automation system, in particular a programmable logic controller PLC.

As an alternative to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, any number of client devices can be connected to the web server 203 via an Internet connection 215. In particular, the automation system 200 can have any number of web servers 203. In addition, any number of different work environments 209 can be set up on the web server 203, on each of which web-based development environments 300 can be executed.

FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of a method 100 for creating and executing a control program for controlling an automation system 200 according to one embodiment.

The embodiment of the method 100 in FIG. 2 is described with reference to FIG. 9 and the description associated therewith.

The method 100 for creating and executing a control program for controlling an automation system 200 can be applied to automation systems with a controller 201 and a web server 203 connected to the controller 201 according to the automation system shown in FIG. 1. To create a control program, a user can use a client device 205 used by him, for example a desktop computer or laptop or any mobile device, and a web browser 206 running on the client device 205 via an internet connection 215 with the web server 203 in a server connection step 101 connect. This connection to the web server 203 can include, for example, a password-protected access process in which the user has to log in using a correspondingly created user account.

After a successful connection to the web server 203, on which the web-based development environment 300 is installed with an input module 301 and a translation module 303, the user can load an instance of the input module 301 of the web-based development environment 300 in a work environment connection step 103 and display it in the web browser 206 of the client Device 205. The instance of the input module 311 can have a corresponding graphical user interface GUI that provides the user with input options, such as text editors. The instance of the input module 311 can be constructed in a manner comparable to integrated development environments (IDE) known from the prior art.

Via the graphical user interface GUI of the instance of the input module 311 executed in the web browser 206, the user can create a connection to a work environment 209 on the web server 201 in the work environment connection step 103. The working environment 209 set up on the web server 201 can include a corresponding programming project including a program file in which a program code of the control program to be modified is arranged. Alternatively, the user can set up a new programming project in the working environment 209 via the instance of the input module 300 executed in the web browser 206 and create a new program code.

In addition to the program file containing the program code, a programming project can have any other files in which any information required to carry out the programming process is stored. In addition, the programming project can include documentation of the program code or code for controlling the translation process. The individual files can be arranged in appropriate directories. In addition, a programming project can have various databases that are required for the creation of a program code in a corresponding programming language and, for example, include usable file types, functions and other objects of the respective programming language. the In particular, databases can be automatically filled with content. This is especially the case when performing analyzes of the program code created, in which the analysis results are stored or temporarily stored in the databases.

For this purpose, the user can create a first version of the program code to be created for a control program for the automation system 200 in a first programming language in a code creation step 105 by making appropriate entries in the instance of the input module 311 executed in the web browser 206. For this purpose, a corresponding program code can be created in a first programming language via various text editors or graph editors of the input module 301 within the web browser 206 executed by the client device 205.

The first programming language used can be any text-based or graphical programming language known from the prior art. Alternatively, the first programming language can be a programming language known from the prior art for automation systems, such as, for example, Sequential Function Chart SFC, Ladder Diagram LD or Function Block Diagram FBD.

Alternatively, the first programming language can be any text-based or graphical programming language known from the prior art.

The first version of the program code can be a newly created program code. Alternatively, the first version of the program code can be a modified version of a program code that has already been created and which is stored on the web server 203 within the working environment 209 under the corresponding programming project. For this purpose, the program code that has already been created can first be loaded from the web server 203 to the instance of the input module 311 executed in the web browser 206 of the client device 205.

After creating the first version of the program code in code creation step 105, in a program code transfer step 107 the created first version of the program code can be transferred from the instance of input module 311 executed in web browser 206 to web server 203 via internet connection 215. The transmission of the generated program code from the instance of the input module 311 executed in the web browser 206 to the web server 203 can be carried out automatically by the instance of the input module 311 executed in the web browser 206 transmitting corresponding messages to the web server 203 at predetermined time intervals. Alternatively, in the program code transfer step 107, only the changes to the program code made in the code creation step 105, on the basis of which the first version of the program code was created, can be transferred from the instance of the input module 311 executed in the web browser 206 to the web server 203 via the internet connection 215. This is of particular interest if the first version of the program code represents a modified version of a program code that has already been created.

Alternatively, the user can use a corresponding send function to transmit the program code created by him from the instance of the input module 311 executed in the web browser 206 to the web server 203.

After the generated program code has been successfully transmitted to the web server 203, the transmitted program code can be written into a program file within the working environment in a writing step 109. The program file of the working environment can have been created in the course of a newly created programming project. Alternatively, the program file can be part of an already existing programming project, while the created first version of the program code represents a modification of an already existing program code.

The program file, comparable to a buffer, can be designed as a file in a main memory of the web server 203, so that changes to the program file do not have to be automatically stored in a permanent data memory, such as a hard disk, of the web server 203.

In addition, the program file can be associated with an association file in the permanent data memory of the web server 203, in which the contents of the program file can be stored, so that the contents of the program file can be stored in the permanent memory of the web server 203.

Alternatively, the program file can be stored in the write step 109 on the permanent data memory of the web server 203.

A program file can, for example, be structured as a compound type and, in turn, comprise further file components that, for example, form parts of a comprehensive Include control program. The generated program code can comprise a complete control program. Alternatively, the generated program code can represent part of a complex control program.

In a translation step 111, the translation module 303 of the web-based development environment 300, which can be executed in the working environment 209, can subsequently be executed and the program code written in the program file, which is written in the first programming language, into a corresponding binary code of a binary language or a Machine language to be translated. The binary code generated by the translation by the translation module 303 is adapted to the design of the controller 201 of the automation system, so that the translated binary code can be executed by the controller 201.

After the generated program code has been translated in the translation step 111, the generated binary code can be transmitted from the working environment 209 to the controller 201 of the automation system 200 in a binary code transmission step 113. This can be achieved, for example, via a corresponding data bus 213. The data bus 213 can be designed as a local network connection, for example.

After the binary code has been transmitted to the controller 201, it can be executed in an execution step 115 by the controller 201 and the automation system 200 controlled in accordance with the control program created.

3 shows a further flow diagram of the method 100 for creating and executing a control program for controlling an automation system 200 according to a further embodiment.

The embodiment of the method 100 in FIG. 3 is based on the embodiment in FIG. 2 and comprises all method steps of the embodiment in FIG. 2. If these remain unchanged in the embodiment in FIG. 3, a renewed detailed description is dispensed with.

In contrast to the embodiment in FIG. 2, the embodiment in FIG. 3 describes the creation of a program code by two users who, via individual client devices, for example, the client device 205 and the further client device 207 according to FIG. 1, simultaneously write the program code of the control program. For this purpose, in a further server connection step 117, a connection between the further client device 207 and the web server 203 can be established via a further web browser 208. The connection between the further client device 207 and the web server 203 can in turn comprise a password-protected access process in which the further user has to log into the server via a corresponding individual user account.

The further user can then load a further instance of the input module 313 of the web-based development environment 300 installed on the web server 203 via the further web browser 208 of the further client device 207 and in a further work environment connection step 119 in the further web browser 208 of the further client device 207 To run. The further instance of the input module 313 can, analogously to the instance of the input module 311, have a graphical user interface GUI which, within the further web browser 208, provides the user with corresponding input options for creating the program code. The two instances of the input module 311, 313 can be executed in different web browsers and in different client devices that are operated with different operating systems. For example, the client device 205 can be a desktop computer, while the other client device 207 is a mobile device.

A connection to the work environment 209 of the web server 203 can then be established via the further instance of the input module 313. This in turn can include a password-protected access process.

Subsequently, in a further program code transfer step 121, the first version of the program code written in the program file can be transferred from the web server 203 to the further instance of the input module 313 and displayed there. The additional user can thus edit the version of the program code edited by the first user.

Subsequently, in a change creation step 123, changes can be made to the first version of the program code and a second version of the program code can be created. For this purpose, the user can modify the program code downloaded from the working environment 209 of the web server 203 accordingly by means of corresponding inputs at the other instance of the input module 313. For this purpose, the user can use the editors provided in the input module 301, via which the program code of the corresponding programming language can be created. The second version of the program code can then be transmitted in a first change transmission step 125 from the further instance of the input module 313 to the web server 203 and in particular to the work environment 209. In the first change transfer step 125, the second version of the program code can be transferred in particular in that only the changes made in the program code are transferred. For this purpose, each individual change made can be transmitted from the further instance of the input module 313 to the web server 203 in an individual message.

After the second version of the program code or the changes made have been transferred to the working environment 209 of the web server 203, the second version of the program code can be written into the program file of the working environment 209 in a change writing step 127. For this purpose, in particular, only the changes made can be entered into the first version of the program code.

After writing the second version of the program code in the program file, in a second change transfer step 129, the version written in the program file can be transferred from the working environment 209 to the instance of the input module 311 of the client device 205 executed in the web browser 206 and in a change display step 131 the User of the client device 205, the second version of the program code created by the further user of the further client device 207 and in particular the changes made to the program code in the respective instance of the input module 311 are displayed. As a result of this comparison, both users can work with the same version of the program code, so that simultaneous processing of the program code by a plurality of users is possible.

The transmission of the version of the program code written in the program file in the change transmission step 129 can be carried out automatically by the web server 203 automatically transmitting the version of the program code to the instance of the input module 311 of the client device 205 after the version of the program code has been written into the program file. Alternatively, the version of the program code can be transmitted from the web server 203 to the client devices 205, 207 as response messages to corresponding requests from the client devices 205, 207 or the instances of the input module 311, 313 to the web server 203 in which the client -Devices 205, 207 or the instances of the input module 311, 313 inquire whether current versions of the program code are available. After writing the second version in the program file in the change writing step 127, analogous to the embodiment in FIG Transfer control 201 and can be executed in execution step 115 by the control.

FIG. 4 shows a further flow diagram of the method 100 for creating and executing a control program for controlling an automation system 200 according to a further embodiment.

The embodiment in FIG. 4 is based on the embodiment in FIG. 3 and comprises all the method steps described there. Insofar as these remain unchanged in the embodiment in FIG. 4, a renewed detailed description is dispensed with.

In contrast to the embodiment in FIG. 3, in the embodiment in FIG. 4, in the change transfer step 125, in addition to the changes made to the first version of the program code, the first version or information relating to the first version of the program code, for example a version number , are transmitted to the web server 203.

Subsequently, in a comparison step 133, the first version transmitted in the change transmission step 125 or the information relating to the first version of the program code, on the basis of which the second version of the program code was created by making the corresponding changes, can be compared with the version which is written in the program file and stored in the working environment 209 on the web server 203. For example, the version numbers of the first version and the version of the program code written in the program file can be compared.

If it is recognized in the comparison step 133 that the version of the program code written in the program file corresponds to the version of the program code transmitted in the first change transmission step 125, for example if the version numbers match, the changes transmitted in the first change transmission step 125 can be written or written to the program file in the change writing step 127 . be entered into the respective version of the program code. If, on the other hand, it is recognized in comparison step 133 that there is no correspondence between the version of the program code in the program file and the version of the program code transmitted in the first change transfer step 125, for example due to a lack of correspondence between the version numbers, a synchronization error is determined in an error message step 135. The synchronization error means that while the first version of the program code was being processed by the further user in the further instance of the input module 313, the version of the program code stored in the program file was updated and thus changed. This can occur if several users make changes to the program code at the same time and these are saved in the program file. By determining the synchronization error in error determination step 135, it can thus be avoided that different users work on different versions of the program code and modify them independently of one another.

After the synchronization error has been determined, the version written in the program file can be transmitted from the web server 203 to the further instance of the input module 313 in a version transmission step 137.

In a version display step 139, this transmitted version of the program code, which is written in the program file at the time of transmission, can be displayed to the further user in the further instance of the input module 313 on the further client device 207. This allows the further user to be shown that while the further user has made changes to the first version of the program code in order to create a second version of the program code, this first version of the program code has already been modified by another user by adding further changes . By displaying the version of the program code of the program file in the version display step 139, the current version of the program code including the changes made therein by the other user can be displayed to the further user.

On the basis of the version of the program code displayed in the version display step 139, the further user can make further changes by making appropriate entries in the further instance of the input module 313 in the change creation step 123 and create a further version of the program code. This enables the program code to be processed to be synchronized for different users, so that This ensures that the various users can edit an identical version of the program code at the same time. In addition, all changes made are displayed to all users who are editing the same program code at the same time.

FIG. 5 shows a time flow diagram of a data communication between the web server 201 and the client devices 205, 207 of the automation system 200 in FIG. 1, according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 5 and 6 each show a time sequence of the synchronization process described for FIG. 4 of the versions of the program code to be created that have been edited by several users.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, the local states of the versions of the program code displayed in the respective instances of the input module 311, 313 of the two client devices 205, 207 are shown in the right and left columns. The middle column represents a chronological sequence of the state of the web server 203 and describes the chronological sequence of the versions of the program code stored in the program file.

In Fig. 5, a first user on the client device 205 using the instance of the input module 311 executed in the web browser 206 initially processes the program code to be created and creates a first version of the program code V1 of the program code to be created.

After the first version of the program code V1 has been created by the first user in the instance of the input module 311, the first version of the program code V1 is transmitted to the web server 203 at a first point in time T1 in the program code transmission step 107. In the web server 203, the transmitted first version of the program code V1 is written in the write step 109 into the program file of the working environment 209. The local state of the web server 203 is thus defined by the first version of the program code V1 written in the program file. In the program code transmission step 121, the web server 203 transmits the first version of the program code V1 written in the program file to the further user of the further client device 207.

The further user edits the first version of the program code V1 and creates a second version of the program code V2 in the further instance of the input module 313 executed in the further web browser 208. At a second point in time T2 transmits the Another instance of the input module 313 creates the second version of the program code V2 in the change transfer step 125 to the web server 203. In the change transfer step 125, the version number of the first version of the program code VN1 is transferred in addition to the changes made.

Subsequently, in comparison step 133, the transmitted version number of the first version of the program code VN1 is compared with the version number of the version of the program code written in the program file. In the example shown in FIG. 5, at the time of the receipt of the transmitted changes by the web server 203, the transmitted version number of the first version of the program code VN1 corresponds to the version number of the version of the program code written in the program file. After the comparison step 133 has been carried out, the changes to the second version of the program code V2 are thus written into the program file, so that the local state of the web server 203 includes the second version of the program code written into the program file.

The second version of the program code V2 or the changes made are then transmitted from the web server 203 to the first client device 205 or the instance of the input module 311 executed in the web browser 206.

In the change display step 131, the transmitted changes of the second version of the program code are displayed in the instance of the input module 311, so that at this point in time the local state of the client device 205 is defined by the second version of the program code V2 displayed in the instance of the input module 311.

The user of the client device 205 then modifies the second version of the program code V2 by making changes and creates a third version of the program code V3 in the change creation step 123. The local state of the client device 205 at this point in time is thus determined by the in the instance of the input module 311 displayed third version of the program code V3 defined.

At a third point in time T3, the instance of the input module 311 of the client device 205 transmits the third version of the program code V3, in particular the changes that were made to the second version of the program code V2, including the version number of the second version of the program code VN2, which served as the basis for the third version of the program code V3, to the web server 203. This in turn carries out the comparison step 133 and compares the transmitted version number of the second Version of the program code VN2 with the version number of the versions of the program code written in the program file.

In the example shown in Fig. 5, the transferred version number of the second version of the program code VN2 corresponds to the version number of the version of the program code written in the program file, so that the changes are adopted and the third version of the program code V3 is written in the change writing step 127 in the program file . The local state of the web server 203 is thus defined by the third version of the program code V3 written in the program file.

The web server 203 then transmits the third version of the program code V3 to the further instance of the input module 313 of the further client device 207. In the change display step 131, the further instance of the input module 313 shows the third version of the program code V3 so that the local state of the further client device 207, after this has been changed to the third version, is defined by the displayed third version of the program code V3.

Fig. 6 shows a timing diagram of a data communication between the web server ver 201 and the client devices 205, 207 of the automation system 200 in FIG. 1, according to one embodiment.

Another example of the synchronization process is shown in FIG. In contrast to FIG. 5, a synchronization error occurs in the example in FIG. 6.

Analogously to the example in FIG. 5, the first user first processes the program code in the instance of the input module 311 and creates a first version of the program code V1.

At time T 1, this is transmitted to the server 203, which writes the first version of the program code V1 in the program file and transmits it to the further user or the further instance of the input module 313 of the further client device.

The further instance of the input module 313 displays the first version of the program code V1 and the further user of the further client device 207 processes the first version of the program code V1 and creates a second version of the program code V2. At time T2, the changes to the second version of the program code V2 including the version number of the first version of the program code VN1 are transmitted to the web server 203. After the comparison step 133 has been carried out, the program server 203 writes the second version of the program code V2 into the program file.

In contrast to the example in FIG. 5, in the example in FIG. 6, the first user of the client device 205 edits the first version of the program code V1 related to this at the same time as the second user edits the first version of the program code V1 Time defines the local state of the client device 205 and creates a third version of the program code V3.

At a third point in time T3, the instance of the input module 311 transmits the third version of the program code V3 including the version number of the first version of the program code VN1, on which the third version of the program code V3 is based, to the web server 203.

In the comparison step 133, the web server 203 compares the transmitted version number of the first version of the program code VN1 with the version number of the version of the program code written in the program file. Since at this point in time the version of the program file and thus the local state of the web server 203 is defined by the second version of the program code V2 and thus the transferred version number of the first version of the program code VN1 does not match the version number of the version of the program file that corresponds to the version number of the second Version of the program code VN2 corresponds, a synchronization error is determined in error determination step 135.

Subsequently, the transmitted third version of the program code is not written to the program file. Instead, the second version of the program code V2 written in the program file at this point in time is transmitted from the web server 203 to the instance of the input module 311 of the client device 205 of the first user.

In the change display step 131, the second version of the program code V2 is then displayed in the instance of the input module 311 of the client device 205. The changes to the second version of the program code made in the meantime by the further user of the further client device 207 are therefore available to the user of the client device 205 V2 shown, so that a synchronization of the versions of the program code used in each case or the states on the client devices 205, 207 of the different users is restored.

FIG. 7 shows a further flow diagram of the method 100 for creating and executing a control program for controlling an automation system 200 according to a further embodiment.

The embodiment of the method 100 in FIG. 7 is based on the embodiment in FIG. 2 and comprises all the method steps described there. If these remain unchanged in the embodiment in FIG. 7, a further detailed description is not required.

In contrast to the embodiment in FIG. 2, in the embodiment in FIG. 7, the work environment connection step 103 comprises a work environment generation step 173. In the work environment generation step 173, the user connected to the web server 203 can open a work environment 209 via the web browser 206 running on the client device 205 the web server 203 generate.

For this purpose, the user can generate a new programming project and arrange this in the newly created work environment 209. The working environment 209 created can also be provided with a password-protected access process, by means of which it can be ensured that only authorized users have access to the working environment 209 and the program project created therein.

Subsequently, in a setting up step 175, the translation module 301 of the web-based development environment 300 can be set up in the newly generated work environment 209. As a result, the programming project created in the newly generated working environment can be executed via the web-based development environment 300.

Alternatively, an instance of the translation module 301 set up on the web server 203 can be generated, which can be executed in the working environment 209. In the event that a plurality of work environments 209 are set up on the web server 203, an individual instance of the translation module 301 can be generated for each work environment 209, each of which is exclusively in the respective work environment 209 is executable. The plurality of instances of the translation module 301 can be executed at the same time. Different programming projects can thus be processed on the web server 203 at the same time.

After successful connection to the work environment in work environment connection step 103, the user can create the desired program code in code generation step 105 via the instance of input module 311 executed in web browser 206.

In contrast to the embodiment in FIG. 2, the embodiment in FIG. 7 enables global analyzes and local analyzes of the created program code to be carried out, which can be carried out simultaneously or at different times.

For this purpose, the translation module 301 of the web-based development environment 300 comprises an analysis module which is set up to carry out semantic and syntactic analyzes of the program code created. The semantic and syntactic analyzes carried out are based on the semantics and grammar of the programming language used to create the program code. In the event that an instance of the translation module 301 is generated for each work environment 209 of the web server 203, each of these instances comprises an instance of the analysis module that can be executed within the respective instance of the translation module 301 within the respective work environment 209.

After transferring the generated program code in program code transfer step 107 from the instance of input module 300 to web server 203 and writing the transferred program code into the program file in write step 109, a global analysis of the transferred program code from the analysis module can be carried out in a global analysis step 141. A global analysis takes into account the complete program code created and includes, in particular, a le xical analysis of the program code as well as an analysis of the semantics and grammar used in the program code.

For this purpose, the global analysis step 141 can include a snapshot step 147 in which an analysis version of the program code created can be generated. A copy of the program code can be made for this purpose. The global analysis is carried out in the following on the basis of the created analysis version of the program code. Since the global analysis includes the complete generated program code, this can be time consuming. By creating an analysis version of the program code to be used for the global analysis, which remains unaffected by further changes to the program code written in the program file, it can be ensured that the user can make further changes to the program code at the same time as the global analysis is carried out without the user's programming process being blocked by performing the global analysis or the results of the global analysis being corrupted by simultaneous changes to the program code.

After creating the analysis version of the program code and performing the global analysis based on the analysis version of the program code, the generated results of the global analysis can be transferred in a global analysis results transfer step 143 from web server 203 to the instance of input module 311 executed in web browser 206 of client device 205 will.

In a global analysis result display step 145, the results of the global analysis can be displayed in the instance of the input module 311 executed in the web browser 206.

The results of the global analysis can include error messages from syntactic or semantic errors in the program code created. Furthermore, the results of the global analysis can include the variables, functions, data types, namespaces or other objects of the programming language used in the program code, which can be displayed in corresponding lists or display windows in the instance of the input module 311.

A local analysis of the generated program code can be carried out at the same time as or at a different time to the global analysis. For this purpose, a current version of the program code can be created in an update step 149. In particular, a current version of the program code can be created for each change made, in which the change made is recorded.

In contrast to the global analysis, in which primarily the semantic and syntactic correctness of the created program code or the objects used in the program code are to be checked or identified, the local analysis is used to provide the user with input aids such as auto-completion or the coloring of Codes or the highlighting of relevant special characters or keywords of the created program code is used. The local analysis is thus carried out on the current versions of the program code, which are each created after a change has been made to the program code. In addition, program objects of the program code can be identified and stored in an accessible manner via the global analysis. For this purpose, for example, appropriate databases can be created.

For this purpose, in the local analysis step 151, a local analysis of part of the program code created can be carried out on each current version of the program code created. The local analysis only takes into account parts of the program code that are required, for example, to enable the written program code to be completed automatically. For each current version of the program code created, an individual local analysis can thus be carried out in the local analysis step 151. After the local analysis has been completed, the local analysis results determined can be transmitted to the instance of the input module 311 in a local analysis result transmission step 153.

In a local analysis result display step 155, the transmitted local analysis results are displayed in the instance of the input module 311. These can be displayed, for example, by completing the written program code or graphically highlighting individual relevant parts of the program code as an input aid for the user.

In the program code transfer step 107, each modification made to the program code created can be transmitted to the web server 203 in an individual message. Thus, in the update step 149, a current version of the program code can be created for each transmitted change and an individual local analysis can be carried out in the local analysis step 151 on the basis of this current version of the program code.

A change in the created program code can consist of adding or deleting a single character of the program code.

The analysis module of the translation module can further comprise a global analysis component and a local analysis component. The global analysis component can be set up to carry out the global analysis, while the local analysis component can be set up to carry out the local analysis. Through the Carrying out the global analysis by the global analysis component and the local analysis by the local analysis component, both analyzes can be carried out at the same time without any mutual interference taking place.

The transmission of the global analysis results in the global analysis result transmission step 143 can be implemented as a response to corresponding poll queries by the instance of the input module 311 to the web server 203. The transmission of the local analysis results in the local analysis results transmission step 153 can be embodied as push messages by the web server 203 to the instance of the input module 311.

Alternatively, the web server 203 can use push messages to inform the clients or the instances of the input module 311 that current analysis results are available. The clients or instances of the input module 311 can query the current analysis results from the web server 203 by means of corresponding poll messages.

Alternatively, corresponding local analyzes can be initiated by the local analysis module 309 via corresponding poll messages from the clients to the web server 203. The local analysis module 309 then carries out the local analyzes and the web server 203 sends the corresponding local analysis results to the clients or the instances of the input module 311 which have requested the corresponding local analyzes.

The implementation of the global analysis and the local analysis described in the embodiment in FIG. 7 can be transferred analogously to the creation of changes to the program code in the change creation step 123 by other users in accordance with the execution forms in FIGS. 3 and 4. Global and local analyzes can thus be carried out for all users who participate in the creation or modification of the program code.

After the global analysis or the local analysis has been carried out, the program code written in the program file can be translated in translation step 111. Before the translation of the program code in translation step 111, several global and local analyzes of the generated program code can be carried out. In particular, several changes or modifications of the version of the program code written in the program file can be made. In the embodiment in FIG. 7, the translation in translation step 111 comprises a first partial translation step 157 and a second partial translation step 159. In the first partial translation step 157, the program code created in the first programming language can be translated into a high-level language. The high-level language can, for example, be a C ++ code. Alternatively, the high-level language can be any high-level text language known from the prior art.

In the second partial translation step 159, the program code translated into the high-level language can be translated into a corresponding binary code that can be executed by the controller 201 of the automation system 200.

To carry out the first partial translation step 157 and the second partial translation step 159, the translation module can comprise a front-end component and a back-end component. The front-end component can be set up to translate the program code of the first programming languages into a corresponding program code of the high-level language. The back-end component can be set up to translate the generated program code of the high-level language into a corresponding binary code.

8 shows a further flow diagram of the method 100 for creating and executing a control program for controlling an automation system 200 according to a further embodiment.

The embodiment in FIG. 8 is based on the embodiment in FIG. 2 and comprises all the method steps described there. The method steps unchanged in the embodiment in FIG. 8 will not be described again in detail below.

In the embodiment in FIG. 8, after the program code created has been written into the program file in writing step 109, a debugging step 161 can be used to carry out a debugging process in which the functionality of the program code created is tested.

For this purpose, the debugging step 161 comprises a debugging translation step 163 in which the program code written in the program file is translated into a corresponding binary code by the translation module. The binary code generated in the debugging translation step 163 can then be transmitted to the controller 201 of the automation system in a debugging transmission step 165.

The binary code of the created program code, which is transmitted to the controller 201, can then be executed in a debugging execution step 167. During the execution of the binary code of the control program by the controller 201, various control parameters can be logged, which enable a statement to be made regarding the functionality of the control program for controlling the automation system 200.

In a subsequent debugging information transfer step 169, the control parameters logged in the debugging execution step 167 can be transferred as information to the instance of the input module executed in the web browser 206. For this purpose, the information can first be transmitted from the controller 201 executing the control program to the web server 203. The transmitted information or control parameters can be displayed to the user in the instance of the input module 311, so that the functionality of the created program code can be checked. In addition, the debugging step 161 can include a breakpoint setting step 171, in which the generated program code can be provided with corresponding breakpoints which enable execution of the program code to be stopped in the debugging execution step 167 at a point in the program code marked by the breakpoints set.

The debugging step 161 can be initiated by the user by making a corresponding entry in the input module 303.

The debugging execution step 167 can be performed by the controller 201 of the automation system. Alternatively, a simulation module can be installed on the web server 203 which is set up to carry out the debugging execution step 167 and to simulate a control of the automation system 200 on the basis of the created program code.

The debugging process in debugging step 161 can be carried out in accordance with a debugging process known from the customary prior art, in which the functionality of the generated program code can be checked. The method 100 according to the invention can be applied to any number of different users who are connected to the web server 203 via different client devices. Each of the users is able to create a program code for a control program for an automation system via an instance of the input module executed in the web browser of the client device used. The synchronization functions ensure that all users who create or edit a common program code at the same time or who display information about it can work on the identical version of the program code and are shown the changes made to the program code by the other users. This enables direct cooperation in which a program code for a control program of an automation system can be generated jointly in mutual exchange. The arithmetic operations for creating the program code or for translating the program code into a binary code as well as for performing the individual analyzes or a debugging process can be carried out via the web server 203.

According to one embodiment, a client or a further client can be any application program that connects to the server via the defined interface and obtains information from the server and transmits it to it. A client or another client can also take on a different role than that of an Intelligent Development Environment IDE.

FIG. 9 shows a further schematic illustration of the automation system 200 in FIG. 1 according to a further embodiment.

In the embodiment in FIG. 9, the automation system 200 comprises a controller 201 which is connected to a web server 203 via a data bus 213. Furthermore, a client device 205 is connected to the web server 203 via an internet connection 215.

Three different work environments 209 are set up on the web server 203. An instance of the web-based development environment 300 installed on the web server with a translation module 303 is set up in a working environment 209. The translation module 303 comprises an analysis module 305. The analysis module 305 comprises a global analysis module 307 and a local analysis module 309. The analysis module 305 is set up to carry out an analysis of the generated program code. The global Bale analysis module 307 is set up to carry out a global analysis in accordance with global analysis step 141. The local analysis module 309 is set up to carry out a local analysis of the created program code in accordance with the local analysis step 151.

In the embodiment in FIG. 9, a service module 211 is also set up in the working environment 209. The service module 211 is designed to take over computationally expensive algorithms. The service module 211 can be set up, for example, to carry out layout algorithms that are carried out when programming a graphic programming language. With the service module 211, computationally expensive process steps that occur during the programming of the program code can be outsourced to the web server 203 in order to conserve resources of the client device 205.

In addition, two independent programming projects 219 are set up in the working environment 209. A programming project 219 is assigned program files 217 which are arranged in a data structure and which can be processed within the programming project 219 and written into the corresponding program codes.

As an alternative to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 9, any number of different individual work environments 209 can be set up on the web server 203. Furthermore, any number of different programming projects 219 can be set up in each work environment, to which any number of different program files 217 can be assigned.

The client device 205 comprises a web browser 206 in which an instance of the input module 311 of the web-based development environment 300 is executed. In the embodiment in FIG. 9, the instance of the input module 311 has a text editor 315, an editor for the programming language Sequential Function Chart SFC 317, an editor for the programming language Ladder Diagram LD 319 and an editor for the programming language Function Block Diagram FBD 321 on. The embodiment of the input module 301 shown in FIG. 9 is only an example. Alternatively, the input module 301 can have further functions, editors and other components that are customary for an integrated development environment DIE known from the prior art. Data communication between the client device 205 and the web server 203 can be implemented via an HTTP protocol or an HTTPS protocol. In particular, versions of the program code can be exchanged between the web server 203 and the client device 205 via the HTTP protocol or the HTTPS protocol. Further communication between the web server 203 and the client device 205 can be carried out via a web socket channel.

List of reference symbols

100 Method for generating and executing a control program

101 Server connection step

103 Location Connection Step

105 Code creation step

107 Program code transfer step

109 write step

111 translation step

113 Binary Code Transfer Step

115 Execution step

117 Server connection step

119 further location connection step

121 further program code transfer step

123 Change creation step

125 change transfer step

127 Change writing step

129 second change transfer step

131 Change display step

133 Comparison step

135 Fault Determination Step

137 Version Transfer Step

139 Version display step

141 global analysis step

143 global analysis result transfer step

145 global analysis result display step

147 Snapshot Step

149 Update step

151 local analysis step

153 local analysis result transfer step

155 local analysis result display step

157 first partial translation step

159 second partial translation step

161 debugging step

163 Debug translation step

165 Debug transfer step

167 Debug execution step 169 Debug information transfer step 171 Breakpoint setting step 173 Work environment generation step 175 Setup step

200 automation system

201 control 203 web server

205 client device

206 web browser

207 another client device

208 additional web browser

209 working environment 211 service module 213 data bus

215 Internet connection 217 Program file 219 Programming project

300 web-based development environment

301 input module

303 translation module

305 analysis module

307 global analysis module

309 local analysis module

311 Instance of the input module

313 further instance of the input module

315 text editor

317 Editor for Sequential Function Chart (SFC)

319 Editor for Ladder Diagram (LA)

321 Editor for Function Block Diagram (FBD)

V1 first version of the program code

V2 second version of the program code

V3 third version of the program code

VN1 Version number of the first version of the program code

VN2 Version number of the second version of the program code VN3 Version number of the third version of the program code

T 1 first point in time

T2 second point in time T3 third point in time

Claims

Expectations

A method (100) for creating and executing a control program for controlling an automation system (200) with a controller (201) and a web server (203) connected to the controller (201), comprising:

Establishing a connection between a client device (205) and the web server (203) via a web browser (206) executed on the client device (205) in a server connection step (101), with a web-based development on the web server (203) environment (300) with an input module (301) for creating a program code and a translation module (303) for translating the created program code instal, the input module being executable in the web browser (206), and the translation module (303) being set up To translate a program code of a first programming language into a program code of a binary language;

Execution of an instance of the input module (311) in the web browser (206) by the client device (205) and creating a connection between the client device (205) and a work environment (209) of the web server (203) and the translation module (303) the work environment (209) via the instance of the input module (311) executed in the web browser (206) in a work environment connection step (103), the translation module (303) being executable within the work environment;

Creating a first version of a program code (V1) of a control program for the automation system (200) in the first programming language in the instance of the input module (311) executed in the web browser (206) in a code creation step (105);

Transferring the created first version of the program code (V1) from the instance of the input module (311) executed in the web browser (206) to the working environment (209) of the web server (203) in a program code transfer step (107);

Writing the first version of the program code (V1) in a program file (217) in the working environment (209) in a writing step (109);

Execution of the translation module (303) in the working environment (209) and translation of the program code created in the first programming language and written in the program file (217) by the translation module (303) into a program code of the binary language in a translation step (111);

Transferring the program code in the binary language from the working environment (209) to the controller (201) of the automation system (200) in a binary code transfer step (113); and Execution of the program code in the binary language by the controller (201) of the automation system (200) and control of the automation system (200) on the basis of the program code in an execution step (115).

2. The method (100) of claim 1, further comprising:

Establishing a further connection between a further client device (207) and the web server (203) via a further web browser (208) executed on the further client device (207) in a further server connection step (117);

Execute another instance of the input module (313) in the further web browser (208) of the further client device (207) and create a further connection of the further client device (207) with the working environment (209) of the web server (203) via the further instance of the input module (313) executed in the further web browser (208) in a further work environment connection step (119);

Transferring the first version of the program code (V1) written in the program file (217) to the further instance of the input module (313) executed in the further web browser (208) of the further client device (207) in a further program code transfer step (121) ;

Making changes to the first version of the program code (V1) and creating a second version of the program code (V2) in the first programming language in the further instance of the input module (207) executed in the further web browser (208) of the further client device (207) 313) in a change creation step (123); Transferring the second version of the program code (V2) from the further instance of the input module (313) to the working environment (209) of the web server (203) in a first change transfer step (125);

Writing the second version of the program code (V2) in the program file (217) in the working environment (209) in a change writing step (127);

Transferring the second version of the program code (V2) written in the program file (217) from the working environment (209) to the instance of the input module (311) of the client device (205) executed in the web browser (206) in a second change transfer step (129); and

Displaying the second version of the program code (V2) in the instance of the input module (311) of the client device (207) executed in the web browser (206) in a change display step (131).

3. The method (100) according to claim 2, wherein in the change transfer step (125) and in the second change transfer step (129) of the second version of the program code (V2) only those in the further instance of the input module (313) Any changes made to the first version of the program code (V1) are transferred.

4. The method (100) according to claim 2, wherein in the change transfer step (125) the changes made in the further instance of the input module (313) to the first version of the program code (V1) and the first version of the program code (V1) are transferred, and the method further comprising:

Comparing the first version of the program code (V1) transmitted in the change transmission step (125) with the version of the program code written in the program file (217) in a comparison step (133);

Determining a synchronization error in an error determining step (135) if the first version of the program code (V1) does not match the version of the program code written in the program file;

Transferring the version of the program code written in the program file (217) from the working environment to the further instance of the input module (313) executed in the further web browser (208) in a version transfer step (137); and displaying the transmitted version of the program code in the further instance of the input module (313) executed in the further web browser (208) in a version display step (139).

5. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims 2 to 4, wherein in the program code transmission step (107) each of the inputs made in the code creation step (105) is transmitted in an individual message, and wherein in the change transmission step (125) each of the made Changes to the first version of the program code (V1) are transmitted in an individual message.

6. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the translation module (303) further comprises an analysis module (305) for performing a semantic analysis and / or a syntactic analysis of the program code created in, further comprising:

Execution of a global analysis of the program code written in the program file (217) in the first programming language by the analysis module (305) and determination of global analysis results in a global analysis step (141), the global analysis of the program code being a semantic analysis and / or a syn tactical analysis of the entire program code on the basis of semantics and / or a grammar of the first programming language; Transmission of global analysis results determined in the global analysis step (141) to the instance of the input module (311) of the client device (205) executed in the web browser (206) and / or to the further instance of the input module (313) executed in the further web browser (208) ) the further client device (207) in a global analysis results transmission step (143); and

Display of the transmitted global analysis results in the instance of the input module (311) of the client device (205) executed in the web browser (206) and / or in the further instance of the input module (313) of the further client executed in the further web browser (208) Device (207) in a global analysis result display step (145).

7. The method (100) according to claim 6, wherein the transmission of the global analysis results as a response from the web server (203) to a poll request from the instance of the input module (311) of the client device (205) executed in the web browser (206) ) and / or in response to a poll request from the further instance of the input module (313) of the further client device (207) executed in the further web browser (208).

8. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims 6 to 7, wherein global analysis results include error messages relating to semantic and / or syntactic errors in the program code created, program objects used in the program code and relationships between the program objects used in the program code, and program objects in the Variables, functions, data types, namespaces or other objects used in the program code.

9. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims 6 to 8, wherein the global analysis step (141) further comprises:

Determining an analysis version of the program code written in the program file (217) in the first programming language by the analysis module (305) in a snapshot step (147), the analysis version of the program code being the one at the time of execution of the global analysis step (141) in the program file (217) corresponds to the written version of the program code; and

Carrying out the global analysis of the program code in the first programming language on the basis of the analysis version in the global analysis step (141).

10. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims 6 to 9, further comprising:

Creating a current version of the program code written in the program file (217) in the first programming language by the analysis module (305) in one Update step (149), whereby a current version of the program code written in the program file (217) in the first programming language after each change of the program code by the instance of the input module (311) of the client device (205) and / or by the further instance of Input module (313) of the further client device (207) is created;

Carrying out a local analysis of part of the program code written in the program file (217) in the first programming language by the analysis module (305) on the basis of the current version of the program code and determining local analysis results in a local analysis step (151);

Transmission of the local analysis results determined in the local analysis step (151) to the instance of the input module (311) of the client device (205) executed in the web browser (206) and / or to the further instance of the input module executed in the further web browser (208) ( 313) of the further client device (207) in a local analysis result transmission step (153); and

Display of the transmitted local analysis results in the instance of the input module (311) of the client device (205) executed in the web browser (206) and / or in the further instance of the input module (313) of the further client executed in the further web browser (208) Device (207) in a local analysis results display step (155), the local analysis results including automatic completions, syntax highlighting and other input aids for inputs in the instance of the input module (311) and / or the further instance of the input module (313).

11. The method (100) according to claim 10, wherein the transmission of the local analysis results as a push message from the web server (203) to the instance of the input module (311) of the client device (205) executed in the web browser (206) and / or to the further instance of the input module (313) of the further client device (207) executed in the further web browser (208).

12. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims 6 to 11, wherein the analysis module (305) comprises a global analysis module (307) for performing the global analysis and a local analysis module (309) for performing the local analysis.

13. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the translation step (111) further comprises:

Translating the program code in the first programming language into a program code in a high-level language in a first partial translation step (157); and Translation of the program code in the high-level language into the program code in the binary language in a second partial translation step (159).

14. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first programming language is a graphical programming language.

15. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: executing a debugging process of the program code written in the program file (217) by the translation module (303) in a debugging step (161).

16. The method (100) of claim 15, wherein the debugging step (161) further comprises:

Translating the program code of the first programming language generated in the first programming language and written in the program file (217) into a program code of the binary language in a debugging translation step (163);

Transferring the program code translated in the debugging translation step (163) in the binary language from the working environment (209) to the controller (201) of the automation system (200) in a debugging transfer step (165);

Executing the program code in the binary language by the controller (201) of the automation system (200) in a debugging execution step (167); and transmitting information relating to the executed program code to the instance of the input module (311) of the client device (205) executed in the web browser (206) and / or to the further instance of the input module (313) executed in the further web browser (208) further client device (207) in a debugging information transmission step (169).

The method (100) of claim 15 or 16, wherein the debugging translation step (163) further comprises:

Setting at least one breakpoint in the program code in a breakpoint setting step (171); and

Execution of the program code in the binary language by the controller (201) of the automation system (200) up to the breakpoint in the debugging execution step (167).

18. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the work environment connection step (103) comprises:

Generating the working environment (209) on the web server (203) in a working environment generating step (173); and Setting up the translation module (303) in the work environment (209) in a setting up step (175).

19. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of separate work environments (209) is generated on the web server (203), the translation module (303) being executable in each work environment (209), and in each Working environment (209) an individual programming project can be carried out. 20. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the web server

(203) is integrated into the controller (201) of the automation system (200).

21. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the working environment (209) further comprises a service module (211), and wherein the service module (211) is set up, computationally expensive processes of the input module (301) executed in the web browser (206) ) to execute.

22. Automation system (200) with a controller (201) and a web server (203) connected to the controller (201), the web server (203) having a client device (205) and a further client device (201) can be connected, wherein a working environment (209) and a web-based development environment (300) are installed on the web server (203), and the automation system (200) is set up to carry out the method (100) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 21 .